Air travel still safe –WHO.

The World Health Organisation during the week reiterated its position that the risk of transmission of the deadly Ebola virus during air travel remains low.

This came when, after the outbreak of the disease in West Africa, many countries have banned flights from countries where the disease has recorded deaths.

The Director, Global Capacity Alert and Response for WHO, Dr. Isabelle Nuttall, said, “Unlike infections such as influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not airborne. It can only be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease.”

According to him, there is no need for countries to ban flights to and from countries affected by the disease.

Nuttall said, “Usually, when someone is sick with Ebola, he is so unwell that he cannot travel. WHO is, therefore, advising against travel bans to and from affected countries.

“Because the risk of Ebola transmission on airplanes is low, WHO does not consider air transport hubs as high risk for further spread of Ebola.